Lock, stock and a smoking barrel

The Bear Point Rifle Club is holding its annual Fun Shoot Feb. 24 from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. and is encouraging families young and old to come out.

Community businesses are preparing for the event by donating food and prizes to the club.

There will be a $50 door prize as well as lobster and seafood prizes distributed to winning teams.

No gun? No problem. There are enough guns to share for people who don’t own one.

Participants will be organized into teams of three grouping an experienced, average and novice shooter with all activities in the indoor target range.

Games such as target shoot and good luck target will be played with a special competition using the running rabbit in which the winner will get to bring home the coveted rabbit trophy, and bragging rights, for a year.

A separate games competition will be set up for youth. Parents are reminded all children under 16 are to be accompanied by a guardian.

“It’s a good sport for a young fella,” says Ernest Crowell.

“And a good place for an old fella too,” banters back oldest member and club treasurer, Ralston Kenney.

The gathering room at the gun club is warm and cozy and laughter comes easily to the men.

“With all our 29 members there’s never been a fight; it’s a laid back club and a lot of fun,” says Crowell. “If you’re gonna have fun there’s no time to be serious.”

The Bear Point Rifle Club is the third successive club of it’s kind in the town with the first club beginning in 1925.

Crowell explains how the Fun Shoot is designed to attract new members and let them see how much fun it really is.

“Can’t get anybody’s attention,” he laments. “We need more young ones to come out to keep the club going.”

Membership to the club is $10 a year and $2 a visit.

The club meets three days a week – Mondays and Wednesdays at 7 p.m. and Saturdays at 1 p.m.

Kenney promises the Fun Shoot will be a “barrel of laughs” and hopes people will enjoy themselves at the festivities.